Ticks cause substantial problems, both as nuisance pests and as vectors of human disease. They are also responsible for enormous economic losses resulting from decreased vigor in infested farm animals and transmission of diseases to domestic and agricultural animals. As such, a great deal of effort has been devoted to controlling ticks, and a great variety of techniques are currently available. Traditionally, most effort has focused on ways to kill ticks or to avoid tick attachment to humans and cattle, with relatively little effort devoted to integrated pest management (IPM) as applied to tick control. This chapter first reviews tick control techniques, including both traditional and novel approaches. Then, it examines the decision-making process in tick management, both in the traditional agricultural setting and in the context of prevention of human disease. The chapter fosters a debate about the goals and principles of tick and tick-borne disease management that will result in a more robust, efficient, theory-driven, science-based practice of IPM for tick control. Further development of novel tick control measures and increased efficiency in their integration and application to achieve desired goals hold great promise for effective future management of ticks and tick-borne diseases.

(Top) A perimeter application of an acaricide for control of nymphal I. scapularis. (Bottom) A woodchip barrier at the woodland-residential lawn interface to reduce movement of ticks into the lawn. Photographs by K. C. Stafford.

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Figure 1.

(Top) A perimeter application of an acaricide for control of nymphal I. scapularis. (Bottom) A woodchip barrier at the woodland-residential lawn interface to reduce movement of ticks into the lawn. Photographs by K. C. Stafford.

Host-targeted acaricide control. (Top) The 4-poster passive topical treatment device for controlling ticks on whitetailed deer consists of a central bin and two feeding and acaricide application stations on either side of the bin. Deer contact the vertical rollers treated with an acaricide as they place their heads into the bait port to feed. (Bottom) Fipronil-based rodent bait box used in initial trials for control of I. scapularis on white-footed mice in Connecticut that contained a nontoxic attractant bait and a yarn-like wick. Photographs by K. C. Stafford.

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10.1128/9781555816490/fig4-2.gif

Figure 2

Host-targeted acaricide control. (Top) The 4-poster passive topical treatment device for controlling ticks on whitetailed deer consists of a central bin and two feeding and acaricide application stations on either side of the bin. Deer contact the vertical rollers treated with an acaricide as they place their heads into the bait port to feed. (Bottom) Fipronil-based rodent bait box used in initial trials for control of I. scapularis on white-footed mice in Connecticut that contained a nontoxic attractant bait and a yarn-like wick. Photographs by K. C. Stafford.

9.Allen, J. R.,1992. An overview of progress in characterizing host immunity to ticks , p. 206–211. InU. G.Munderloh, and T. J.Kurtti (ed.) , First International Conference on Tickborne Pathogens at the Host-Vector Interface: An Agenda for Research . University of Minnesota, St. Paul.

53.George, J. E.1992. Naturally acquired immunity as an element in strategies for the control of ticks on livestock. Insect Sci. Appl. 13:515–524.

54.Ginsberg, H. S.1992. Ecology and Management of Ticks and Lyme Disease at Fire Island National Seashore and Selected National Parks.Scientific monograph NPS/NRSUNJ/NRSM- 92/20. U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service, Washington, D.C.

106.Maupin, G. O.1999. Innovations in acaricides and delivery methods against ticks, p. 16 . National Conference on the Prevention and Control of Tick-borne Diseases . American Lyme Disease Foundation, New York, N.Y.